2026 is shaping up to be a big year for festivals. While a few well-loved events are taking a pause this year — including Glastonbury Festival, which is taking its fallow year, and Live at Leeds, which won’t take place in 2026 as the team takes time to plan the future of the festival across both In The Park and In The City — there’s still plenty happening across the UK festival calendar.
In this guide, we’ll share some of the top festivals happening in 2026, with a few favourites from the Tickets for Good team. You’ll also find out how eligible NHS staff, charity workers, teachers, and cost-of-living payment recipients can access free and discounted festival tickets through our platform. Whether you’re a regular at UK festivals or planning your first one, this is a great place to start.
People across all ages are turning to festivals as their go-to way to experience live music and connection. As James Ralls, founder of the award-winning Victorious Festival, shared in an article by The Standard, “With the loss of some of the night-time economy, people are going out to festivals as an alternative.” It’s not just about the music anymore, either. Audiences are expecting more, such as quality food and facilities in wellness areas, comedy stages, and family-friendly spaces. And festival organisers are delivering, shifting to become immersive, inclusive experiences.
There’s also a noticeable shift in how people, especially younger generations, want to connect with music. Post-pandemic, there's a higher demand for real-world connection, community, and shared experience. Festivals offer that in a way few other events can! After many have had to stop operationally over the past few years, we hope 2026 is the year UK festivals bounce back, evolve, and prove they’re more than just weekend escapes - they’re cultural milestones of the UK.
Set in the heart of East London’s Victoria Park, All Points East is known for its eclectic programming and urban festival feel. It runs across two weekends with world-class line-ups and free midweek community-focused events.
2026 line-up highlights (by day):
22nd August: Lorde, PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson, 2hollis, Oklou
23rd August: Deftones, IDLES, Amyl and The Sniffers, JPEGMAFIA, Basement
28th August: Tyler, The Creator, Rex Orange County, Turnstile, Mariah the Scientist, Vince Staples, Mustard
29th August: Tyler, The Creator, Daniel Caesar, Baby Keem, Dijon, Danny Brown, Faye Webster, Ghostface Killah
30th August: Twenty One Pilots, Wunderhorse, Ren, bbno$, PVRIS
Often known as a rite of passage after finishing school, Reading & Leeds takes place across both sites on the August bank holiday weekend. Reading Festival is the older of the two and remains the UK’s longest-running major music festival.
Since adopting its dual-site format in 1999, the festival has focused largely on rock, alternative, indie, punk, and metal, while more recent years have seen hip hop take a bigger role on the line-up. Over the decades, it’s hosted some of the biggest names in UK and international music.
2026 headliners include:
Charli XCX, Chase & Status, Dave, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C., and RAYE.
Located in the Brecon Beacons, Green Man is beloved for its relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere and stunning natural setting. It blends indie music with literature, science, wellness, and comedy.
Line up: To be announced.
The UK’s leading rock and metal festival, Download has been bringing heavy riffs and headbanging to Donington Park for over 20 years.
For its 23rd edition in June 2026, Download is shaping up to be one of its strongest yet, with Limp Bizkit, Guns N’ Roses, and Linkin Park topping the bill — all three playing their only UK shows of the year at the festival.
One of the UK’s most historic festivals, Isle of Wight Festival combines big-name artists with a laid-back island setting. It’s a popular choice for families and fans of both contemporary and legacy acts.
2026 headliners: Lewis Capaldi, Calvin Harris, and The Cure.
Also announced are Teddy Swims, Wet Leg, The Kooks, Tom Grennan, Sex Pistols (Paul Cook, Steve Jones, Glen Matlock) featuring Frank Carter, The Last Dinner Party, Feeder, Jo Whiley’s 90s Anthems, Rick Astley, Shed Seven, David Gray, Five, KT Tunstall, Anastacia, Starsailor, Suzanne Vega, and Luvcat.
After a strong debut, Lido Festival returns to Victoria Park’s Lido Field in June, continuing its focus on carefully curated line-ups across two days. The festival blends alternative, indie, and electronic artists, making it a standout addition to London’s growing festival scene.
2026 dates & line-up:
Friday 12 June 2026: CMAT, Father John Misty, Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory, plus more to be announced
Saturday 13 June 2026: Maribou State, Kelis, Folamour, Theo Parrish b2b Moodymann, plus more to be announced
Held across venues throughout Brighton, The Great Escape is the UK’s leading festival for discovering new music. Returning in 2026, the city-wide event brings together hundreds of emerging artists from around the world, alongside industry showcases, talks, and late-night shows, all set against Brighton’s seafront.
2026 dates & line-up:
Dates and full line-up to be announced. As ever, the festival will focus on showcasing rising talent across multiple genres, with artists performing in intimate venues across the city.
Wide Awake is a forward-thinking one-day festival held in Brockwell Park, South London. With a focus on leftfield indie, post-punk, electronic, and new sounds, it’s already gained a reputation for booking boundary-pushing artists.
Hosted on Bristol’s Downs, Forwards is a two-day inner-city festival that brings major international artists to the city while championing emerging talent from Bristol and beyond.
Known for its thoughtful approach to programming, Forwards pairs high-quality, diverse line-ups with talks and discussions that explore culture, politics, and community. Rooted in Bristol’s long-standing musical heritage, the festival aims to challenge what a metropolitan festival can be — using live events as a way to bring people together and create positive change.
Taking place in Sheffield, Get Together is a one-day festival celebrating independent music, craft beer, and local culture. Known for its compact, city-based format, the festival brings together up-and-coming bands, DJs, and grassroots energy across some of Sheffield’s most well-loved venues.
2026 details:
The first wave of artists for 2026 has been announced, including Fat Dog, The Horrors, Deadletter, Lime Garden, Jessica Winter, Curiosity Shop, Eaves Wilder, Lemonsuckr, Lily Moore, Pollyfromthedirt, and Silver Gore. Legendary DJ Erol Alkan will also be closing out the night.
Set in the riverside town of Marlow, Pub in the Park combines great food, craft drinks, and live music in a relaxed, family-friendly setting. The festival brings together top chefs, pop-up restaurants, and well-known music acts for a full weekend of eating, drinking, and live entertainment.
Dates: 14–17th May 2026
Location: Higginson Park, Marlow
2026 music headliners:
Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Craig David, Gabrielle, McFly, and Razorlight.
Alongside the music, expect a mix of returning favourites and new additions, including chef-led pop-up restaurants, new stages, the festival’s signature fire pit, and a fun fair. More chefs and festival content are set to be announced in January.
A must for any foodie, Taste of London brings together some of the capital’s best restaurants and chefs. With live demos, hands-on workshops, and signature bites to try, it’s a tasty way to kick off summer.
Set on the beautiful Porthminster Beach, this festival showcases Cornwall’s top chefs and local producers. From fresh seafood to baked treats, it’s the perfect mix of food, sea views, and a laid-back coastal vibe.
A celebration of local flavours and global cuisine, Birmingham’s Good Food Festival offers everything from street food and chef demos to artisan stalls and drinks tastings. Great for families, foodies, and anyone looking to explore the city’s diverse food scene.
Held in George Square Gardens during Edinburgh’s buzzing summer season, this free-to-enter festival champions Scottish food producers and street food vendors.
Camp Bestival is designed with families in mind - with circus shows, theatre, arts and crafts, and music for all ages. Expect headliners for the grown-ups, and plenty to keep the kids entertained all weekend.
Set in Henham Park, Latitude mixes music, comedy, and culture with a dedicated family area, kid-friendly entertainment, and relaxed vibes. A great intro to festivals for younger ones.
Known as one of the most family-friendly festivals in the UK, Wychwood takes place on a safe, compact site and offers a mix of live music, kids’ workshops, and cultural programming. Alongside its music stages, the festival features a dedicated literature tent and a wide range of activities designed for all ages.
2026 line-up highlights:
Held at Baldersby Park in North Yorkshire, Deer Shed is a family-friendly festival known for its unique mix of music, science, arts, and comedy. Alongside its music line-up, the festival offers talks, workshops, theatre, and hands-on activities, making it a great option for families looking for more than just live music.
2026 line-up highlights:
Sleaford Mods, Say She She, Everything Everything, The Twilight Sad, Fat Dog, bar italia, Working Men’s Club, Getdown Services, Sorry, BCUC, Bill Ryder-Jones, Jasmine.4.T, Brògeal, Angeline Morrison, The New Eves, Chinese American Bear, La Sécurité, Karma Sheen, Rizan Said, Loula Yorke, and more.
The weekend also features theatre performances and creative programming, including the Songbird Medicine Show featuring Jack Francis and Hattie Whitehead.
Although Tramlines is a major city festival with big names on the bill, it also makes space for families, with a dedicated family area and kids’ activities alongside its main stages.
2026 headliners:
Fatboy Slim, Courteeners, and Wolf Alice.
Also announced for 2026 are Gabrielle, Rick Astley, Kaiser Chiefs, Blossoms, The Vaccines, Wet Leg, Reverend and the Makers, and Vanessa Carlton, who will be making her Tramlines debut. The festival will also feature a daytime disco set from Day Fever, founded by actress Vicky McClure.
23rd - 26th July – Great Fulford House, Devon
This summer will see the inaugural edition of Peep Festival in Devon. It promises to be an intimate but dance-filled weekend, with a stellar line up curated by Lukas Wigflex & Dr Banana featuring some of the hottest underground talent as well as some big hitters in the world of electronic music (Jeremy Sylvester, Gene On Earth, & Jossy Mitsu to name a few!)
With this year being the first ever edition of this festival, this is a great opportunity to support an independent and grassroots event in the beautiful setting of the Devon countryside.
29th August – Southwark Park, London
RALLY is a one-day festival held each August in Southwark Park, London. Inspired by DIY culture and grassroots movements, it spans three main stages — including one with a striking steel-frame, industrial design — alongside smaller, more intimate spaces tucked around the park. The setup encourages wandering between big-name and emerging artists, while still keeping that intimate atmosphere.
Last year’s lineup featured plenty of acts I jumped at the chance to see, from Asha Puthli and POiSON GiRL FRiEND to MIKE, Geordie Greep, Pender Street Steppers, and a tribute to the late Arthur Russell. The programming felt incredibly well curated and genuinely tuned in, prioritising variety across club-leaning sounds, more avant-garde performances, and even spoken word and poetry. Between stages, the site was dotted with experimental art installations.
At the time of writing, Blood Orange is the only act yet announced for this year, but if past lineups are anything to go by, whoever’s still to come will be well worth the wait!
20th – 23rd August – Wimborne St Giles, Dorset
We Out Here is a four-day celebration of music and community, curated by Gilles Peterson and set in the grounds of Wimborne St Giles in Dorset. The festival hosts artists and DJs spanning soul, jazz, hip hop, afrobeat, and house across 15 stages and the 2026 lineup features artists like Sampa the Great, Yukimi, corto.alto, and Yazmin Lacey, among others. I’m yet to go to the festival myself but from what I’ve heard, it’s one of the best of the year for both its amount of music and friendliness of people there!
After working with We Out Here frequently as part of their Open Arms initiative, we were proud to help distribute free tickets through our partnership. The scheme offered tickets to those receiving cost-of-living payments, with 100 spots allocated via ballot - and even included free return travel for local attendees in Dorset! It’s great to see a festival making real efforts to open up their event to new audiences, and we’re excited to see how this work develops in the future (stay tuned! 👀).
24th May – Temple Newsam, Leeds
Slam Dunk North is one of my absolute favourites – the atmosphere is always so good, and there’s such a good mix of bands on the lineup every year.
I like that there are big names you’ve been wanting to see or smaller bands you end up falling in love with, there’s something for everyone. I’ve always found it’s the perfect day out with friends – you’re running between stages, grabbing a drink, catching your favourite sets, and soaking up the energy.
I also love the layout at Temple Newsam – it’s spacious without feeling too spread out, and everything’s easy to get to. It’s just a guaranteed good time. 🖤
27th - 30th August - Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire
Set in rural Northamptonshire, Shambala Festival really lives up to its reputation as being ‘the most fiercely independent, seriously silly, wildly creative and radically sustainable party in a field’. It’s one for all ages with a definite family-friendly vibe, but if dancing until the early hours is more your thing then you’ll be pleased to hear that the music continues until 5am every night.
In terms of what’s on offer musically, Shambala is exciting to say the least. The festival champions grassroots artists and performers spanning across multiple genres. With last year’s big addition of the Solasta stage, you’ll also see some of the most talked about new risers, such as Moonchild Sanelly and Fat Dog, making their way to the site in August.
There’s plenty of silly little twists to this festival with secret rooms in some unexpected places, a Saturday costume theme of ‘Pun Intended’ (which is taken very seriously), and a huge array of weird and unusual talks and activities. The festival is so much more than your average music festival, so you’re guaranteed to come back from this one with serious post-festival blues.
At Tickets for Good, we believe that festivals should be accessible to everyone, regardless of budget. That’s why we partner with festivals across the UK to offer free and discounted tickets to NHS staff, charity workers, teachers, and people receiving cost-of-living support.
Over the years, we’ve teamed up with festivals like Parklife, Radar, Tramlines, and Truck Festival to make sure more people could experience live music without the cost barrier. Some tickets were distributed through member ballots, while others were available on a first-come, first-served basis directly through our platform.
We’re proud to be growing this work in 2026, with more festivals and more opportunities for members to attend amazing events across the country. Make sure you’re signed up to Tickets for Good to stay updated on new releases, ballots, and exclusive offers throughout the summer.
As a Tickets for Good member, getting access to free and discounted festival tickets is simple. Here's how it works:
Sign Up: Become a member of Tickets for Good to access exclusive offers.
Browse Festivals: Check our platform regularly to see which festivals are offering discounted or free tickets for eligible members.
Claim Your Tickets: When tickets are available, claim them quickly to ensure you don’t miss out on amazing events.
The UK’s festival scene in 2026 is shaping up to be one of the best yet, with events that cater to every taste. With Tickets for Good, you can enjoy these festivals without worrying about the cost.
So, start planning your summer today, and keep an eye on Tickets for Good for all the latest updates and ticket releases.
We can’t wait to see you there!